What if the stress you feel around your boss isn’t “just part of the job”—but your nervous system sounding an alarm?

In this episode of Refirement Life, Christine sits down with Shannon Smith, a former Microsoft leader and Harvard-trained neuroscience researcher who is on a mission to help professionals reclaim their power at work.

Shannon breaks down the real science behind toxic leadership—why your body reacts before your mind does, how chronic stress hijacks your performance, and why even top performers can lose confidence, creativity, and clarity in unhealthy environments.

Together, they explore:

• How to recognize a toxic boss (and toxic workplace) before burnout sets in
• Why your gut, vagus nerve, and amygdala are key signals—not weaknesses
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